Sony Quietly Announces “All New” HMZ-T2 HMD, Reduces Weight by 20% [Gallery, Specs]

Sony has quietly announced a refreshed version of their HMZ-T1 head mounted display. The HMZ-T2 reduces weight by 20% which is good given that weight was one of the top issues with the original. The press release making the announcement calls the HMZ-T2 “all new” and “totally enhanced” but in reality little has changed. A more appropriate name would have been ‘HMZ-T1.5’.

The drop in weight is the most significant change to the HMZ-T2. From 420 grams on the original, the updated model weighs in at 330 grams. Part of this weight is thanks to a slimmed down frontal visor, and part is the removal of over-ear headphones. The HMZ-T2 switches earbuds and adds a hands 3.5mm headphone jack where you can plug in your own headphones or earbuds for use with the HMD . Sony’s Virtualphones virtual 5.1 surround technology returns to create a virtual surround sound experience with stereo headphones.

Sony claims that the HMZ-T2 has a “sharper display” but is nothing I can find to substantiate this. The same 720p OLED displays appear to be in use and the horizontal viewing angle is identical to the HMZ-T1 at 45 degrees. The adjustable nose rest seems to be remove from the HMZ-T2.

There’s no official announcement regarding price or an HMZ-T2 release date, but I think we can expect to see this at the same $799 mark as the original.

Update: Sony UK now has an official product page for the HMZ-T2 with full specs. I’ll add the HMZ-T2 soon to my HMD comparison chart.

SlashGear got their hands on the HMZ-T2 at IFA which is going on in Berlin this week (see their article here for hands-on photos):

Sony HMZ-T2 Head Mounted Display Gallery